Vibratory reed musical instrument



June 2, 1953 B F, M|E5$NER 2,640,384

VIBRATORY REED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed NOV. 21, 1949 llllllllllllllllllllllll n.

/6`` fb w @i BENJAMIN IESS/VER IN VEN TOR.

VM we@ ATTORNEY Patented June 2, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VIBRATORY REED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application November 21, 1949, Serial No. 128,580

3 Claims.

This invention relates to air-vibrated, reed type musical instruments, such as accordions and the like, and more particularly to a novel arrangement of air passageways and associated valves rendering unidirectional the flow of air past the reeds upon compression and expansion of the bellows, whereby the total number of reeds is reduced to one half that required in similar instruments of conventional design.

Ordinarily an accordion has two keyboards disposed on opposite sides of the bellows, one of conventional organ type which serves generally for the solo or melody parts of the music and the other of the push button type which serves for the accompanying parts consisting of musical chords of various types and frequencies. Conventional accordions require two complete sets of vibratory reeds, that is, two individual reeds are required for each tone to be reproduced. One reed is effective to produce the tone when the bellows are compressed and the other reed is effective to produce an identical tone when the bellows are expanded. The reason for the dual reed complement is due to the fact that a free reed (one which vibrates clear of the air passageway) cannot be set into sustained vibrations when the air current causes an initial flexing of the reed in a direction away from the air aperture in the reed block.

In my copending U. S. application Serial No. 117,992, iiled September 27, 1949, now abandoned, I disclose one method of overcoming the requirement for a dual set of reeds by providing a single set of reeds of novel construction whereby each reed is capable of vibration with the passage of air in either direction. The present invention concerns itself with a different solution to the problem, namely, by the provision of a structure and valve system which maintains a unidirectional flow of air through a single set of conventional, single reeds for both compression and expansion of the accordion bellows.

An object of this invention is the conservation of Weight, space and cost in an accordion or the like by the provision of an air system requiring only a single reed to produce a given tone under compression and expansion of the accordion bellows.

An object of this invention is the provision of a novel air passageway and valve arrangement for accordions and the like wherein a single reed is subjected to a unidirectional flow of air during compression and expansion of the bellows.

An object of this invention is the provision of an air control system for accordions and the like comprising a pair of air chambers, a vibratory reed mounted over an opening between the air chambers, an airport between each air chamber and the atmosphere, an airport between each air chamber and the air reservoir formed by the in` strument bellows, and one way air valves associated with each port and so arranged that a transfer of air between the air reservoir and the atmosphere upon compression or expansion of the bellows results in a unidirectional flow of air through the opening between the air chambers. These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood the drawings are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to define the scope or limits of the invention, reference being had for the latter purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts in the several views: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a conventional pair of reeds mounted on a single reed block and as now required to produce a single tone upon compression and expansion of the bellows of an accordion; Figure 2 is a similar View of a single reed which may be used in conjunction with my invention;

Figure 3 is a central cross sectional view illustrating my novel arrangement of the air chambers, airports and associated one way valves when the accordion bellows are being expanded; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View similar to that of Figure 3 and illustrating the position of the valves when the bellows are being compressed.

Figure 1 illustrates a dual reed as presently required to produce a given tone upon compression and expansion of the bellows of an accordion. The reeds ID, IU are mounted individually on opposite sides of a reed block i I as by the rivets I2, I2', respectively, each reed being alined with an associated aperture or air passageway I3, I3. As is well-known, the distal end and the marginal edges of the reed are spaced from the walls deiining the associated aperture whereby the reed is free to vibrate within the aperture without touching the reed block. Also, the reed is inclined somewhat so that the distal end of the reed is spaced from the face of the reed block.

In an accordion, or the like, the reed block l I is mounted in an air chamber whereby changes in air pressure brought about by the compression or expansion of the bellows results in a passage of air through the apertures I3, I3'. Assume now that compression of the bellows causes a flow of air through the apertures I3, i3 in the direction indicated by the arrows a, a. The mass of air rushing through the relatively open aperture i3 and pass the edges of the reed IB produces vortexes which draw the reed toward the aperture. When the reed il! is drawn into the aperture i3 the latter effectively is closed whereupon the flow of air therethrough is reduced substantially. Consequently, the resilient reed tends to return to its initial position which effectively reopensthe aperture and the cycle is repeated. The. net result is a sustained vibration oi the reed. On the other hand, the reed i initially flexesiaway from its associated aperture thereby effectively opening up the aperture to an extentwhereby a balance is established between the air pressure exerted upon the face of the reed and the compliance characteristics of the particular material of which the reed is made. Thus, the reed rI0 does not vibrate.

Upon extension ofy the'accordion bellcwsa reverse action takes place, lthat fis.. air .current owsin the direction o the arrows b, b. Under thiscondition 'the reed i0 vibrates to produce the .tone while the reed IIs is ineffective. With bothreeds adjustedto vibrate at the same frequency identical tonesware produced upony corr,- pression and expansion ofthe* bel-lows.

In the practice or.my-invention-:cnly.a single reediis requiredto produce a'given vtone when the "bellowspare either 'compressedaorvexpanded. Suche. unit is shownin. Figure'2,.wherein"the vibratory reed l -is mounted onA a reed .block IE, the ylatter being provided withholes Il whereby theiunitmay bemounted upon a reed board or other surface.

:Reference is;no\vxmade toi-Figures and 4 which show `the :features of my novel Ychamber and valve system for obtaining a unidirectional flow of; aiiwpastthe vibratory reed whenthe bellows areeither co1 ssed :or expanded. The illustrationsarein schematic form to afford a clear understanding-.of the structure as itwould bedifrioult to ill strate anactual structural arrangement Vas appliedin an:actual` accordion. The drawings, therefore, do not represent actual physical structureneztceptin its operational symbolism. There is-shovfn in the drawings the two halvesof. an accordion vconn-cted by. a bellows offconventional type. Since .the-'action ofzbcth halves -is the same, onlycneds.showndn detail, and thatxone only-to the-extent necessary for a .properlunderstanding of vthe invention.

YThe bellows 2@ are secured to the opposed end plates 2l and. 22-.as by: metallic strips, 23 .thatar-u fastened'to the plateszby means ofthescrews and;nuts 25. .A housing 25 is secured tolthe-upper plate` 2i as bythe screws xandznuts a resilient gasket. 2Q. serving to maker the joint air tight. The housing 28 is divided into two air chambers Aand B by the plate 30 `secured in placeby the screws 3l and cooperating nuts 32. An air passageway between the `atmosphere'and the air chamberB is yformed by the tube that may be secured to the plate 2i and the plate' 30 by cement, or etc. A similarair passageway ormedbetween the-.aircharober A and theair reservoir (formed. by thebelloivs) by the tube 3G. Adair passagewaybetween the air vchamber A andthe atmosphere is provided by the opening 31 in the plate I!! while the opening 38 forms .an air passagewaybetween the chamber B kairchambers A, B, isprovided with separate and opening by a `screw' 42.

4 distinct air passageways communicating directly with the atmosphere and with the air reservoir. Associated with each oi these air passageways are individual, one way fiapper valves, specific valves being identified by the letters a, b, c and d. These valves are or identical construction andpas `shown with respect tothe valve a, may comprise a Vresilient pad 40 of leather, rubber o1' etc., cemented or otherwise anixed to a thin ,metallic strap 4i which, in turn, is secured in properposition with respect to the associated The strap 4i is a weak springfand'normally exerts a weak but denite pressure in the direction of the supporting surfaceso `that the pad 4D is maintained in Contact with the plate 2| except when the atmospheric pressure is somewhat lower than the air pressure within the chamber A.

Oneway, spring biased, dapper valves of the type shown in the drawing are known in the art, it beingpointed out that the function of: each valveis to permit the passage of air 'through the associated opening or passageway in but one direction. As a specific example, the valvea is normally closed by the slight mechanicalbias exerted by the Aspring strap4l ybut it is closed still tighter when the atmospheric pressure is greater than tnatwithin the chamber A. v.The valve a will move to the open'positionwhen the air pressurein chamberA.-is raised,4 somewhat aboveatmospheric pressure by compression of the bellows 20. Similardesiderata holds-.for the flapper valves b, aand-except that the individual valves are-.positioned toclose and open the associated apertures or air passageways in accordance with.a predetermined arrangement as will become more. Vapparent i hereinbelow.

Thereed block IS carrying the `single vibratory reed l5 is secured acrosstheopening .45.by.v the screws 45, or by means of -beeswaxas conventionally practiced, it being notedthat the. opening formsthe only airpassageway: in direct communication between the air chambers-A. and B. A lever 451s pivotallysecured tothe plate 30 at the point-l,` said lever-having a Dad 41 of leather or other resilient materialk affixed to one end thereof. The lever 46 normally isv biased. in a counter-clockwise direction bythecoiled-spring 49 which may be retained in a fixed .position rela.- tive to lever 46.by.,means of thescrew 50. The pressure .exerted .by therspring againstzthexlever 46 `issuficient to retain the pad Macross the aperture orgopening 45 to'prevent passage of air therethrough. yA rod 55, passing .throughthe plateA 2l :serves .as a means forrotating thebar .46 in a clockwise direction against theirestraining action of the spring49 tothereby. permitthe passage of-r air throughthe opening 45. The lrod may be finger-operated directly by the musician or may beconnected t0 `one ofthe keys of the accordion keyboard. In order toprevent leakage of air through the slight clearance opening between the rod and thel associatedholein the plate 2|,iwhen the rod isnot kdepressedthe rod may beprovidedwith a head I56 carryinga leather or rubberwasher 51. When the, rod? 55 isinthe normal,.nondepressed position the' Dad 41 closes the opening 45 and the pad 5l on Athe rodabutsagainst the under surface ofthe plate In the Figure 3 illustration the rod'55 is-shown in the depressed or operative positiongthatiathe musicians finger is assumed to be pressing on the keyto produce the tone corresponding tothe `vibration frequency `of the particular reed I5.

5. Also, the bellows 20 are being expanded whereby the pressure of the air within the air reservoir is reduced below that of the atmosphere. Consequently, atmospheric air immediately will iiow along the path indicated by the arrows, that is, through the tube 35, past the now open valve b, through the aperture in the reed block I6 and the opening 45, through the tube 36, past the now open valve d, into the air reservoir. Passage of the air through the reed block IB sets the reed I into vibration thereby producing the musical tone. It will be noted that the valves a and c are tightly closed by reason of the nor mal bias of their spring plus the relatively increased air pressure against the face of the valve as indicated by the short, heavy arrows. The amplitude of the vibrations imparted to the reed I5 is determined by the velocity of the air passing through the aperture in the reed block I6 which, in turn, is governed by the pressure difference in the chambers A and B, the latter being a function of the speed with which the bellows are extended. Variations in the speed of extension of the bellows produce corresponding modulations in the degree of vacuum within the air reservoir which eiects may be used in various ways to influence the amplitude of vibrations of the reed quite apart from the on and off control of the key-rod 55. The reed vibrations continue so long as the pressure in the air reservoir is sufficiently below that of the atmosphere and the rod 55 is depressed. When, however, the ow of air into the air reservoir results in an equalization of the atmospheric and reservoir pressures, air flow through the above explained passageways will cease.

If, now, the expanded bellows are compressed, the air in the reservoir is placed under a pressure above that of the atmosphere and the various valves will take the positions shown in Figure 4, it being noted that the rod 55 is still in the depressed position. Air from the reservoir escapes through the now open valve c, through the reed block I6 and the opening 45, and through the now open valve a. rThe valves b and d, which were open when the bellows were being expanded, are now tightly closed due to the small normal bias of their springs, plus the increased pressure exerted in the direction indicated by the short, heavy arrows. The air passing through the reed block I6 is in the same direction as in the above described condition when the bellows were being expanded. Consequently, the reed will vibrate to produce the tone.

It will now be apparent the single reed I5 will vibrate when the bellows are compressed or expanded and there is no need to provide a dual set of reeds as required in the conventional instrument. When the key-rod 55 is not physically depressed the pad 4'I closes the opening 45 under the action of the relatively strong spring 49 thereby preventing the iiow of air through the reed block I6 and under this condition the reed cannot vibrate in spite of the attempted expansion or compression of the bellows.

While the drawings and the description are restricted to a single reed and key-rod it will be understood a whole bank of similar air chambers and valves are arranged along one side of the accordion, each associated with a single reed having a pre-selected or adjusted vibration frequency, whereby the entire range of musical tones or notes is available to the musician. A similar air chamber arrangement is provided on the other side of the accordion as illustrated by the hous- 6. ing 60 and control button BI in Figure 3. Since the action of both halves is the same only one is shown in detail. In actual practice one side of the accordion is arranged to produce a single tone upon depressing a single control key, as above described, while the other side is arranged to produce a cord upon operation of a single button. The multiple arrangement of the air chambers to cause vibration of a plurality of reeds is well-known in the art.

While I have illustrated my invention in a' rather schematic sense it is believed the above detailed description aiiords a thorough understanding thereof.

The one way air valves may take a variety of specific designs. As shown in Figure 3, with specific reference to the iiapper valve a, the resilient member 4I carrying the felt pad 40 is preferably made of spring material to impart a iiniteamount of mechanical bias to the valve as a whole. In such arrangement a pre-determined, minimum differential air pressure is required to open the associated port or air passageway. Further, the valves may be of the axially sliding type urged to a normally closed position by a helical spring, as is well-known in the art.

The speciiic construction of the air chambers A and B is also subject to a wide latitude of designs with respect to such considerations as size, shape, type of material, etc. In the above description I have indicated only a single reed with the pair of air chambers. It will be apparent the air chambers A and B may extend the full width of the accordion, that is, each f chamber being common to the full complement of reeds, as the operation of each reed is controlled by an individual closure pad such as the pad 41, Figure 3.

Having now described my invention and the principle of operation, various modications of practicable character will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without constituting a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

l. An accordion comprising a bellows secured to spaced plates to form a variable-capacity air reservoir, one of said plates having an aperture normally closed by a one way air valve; a housing carried by the said plate and extending into the reservoir, said housing having an aperture communicating with the reservoir; a one way air valve normally closing the said housing aperture; a fixed partition dividing the interior of the housing into a first air chamber proximate to said plate and a second air chamber proximate to said reservoir, said partition having a reed aperture therein; a first hollow member forming an air passageway between the second chamber and the atmosphere; a one way air valve closing an end of said rst hollow member; a second hollow member forming an air passageway between the first chamber and the reservoir; a one way air valve normally closing an end of the second hollow member; a vibratory reed carried by the said partition and operatively associated with the reed aperture; a pivotally mounted air valve normally closing the reed aperture; and a linger-operable member actuating the pivoted valve to open the reed aperure.

2. The invention as recited in claim l, wherein the said first hollow member comprises a tube passing through alined holes in said face plate and partition, and the second hollow member 7 comprises a :tube f passing, through .a1-lined f holes nftheg-'sa-id Ypartitiony and housing.

Q3. Aneceordion comprising a. bellows secured to-spaced plates to forme variable-*capacity air reservoir,v one of said plates having aniaperture normally closed-by anne wa-y air valvexandfan unrestricted aperture; a housing carried bythe saidlface'plate and extending into the-reservoir, said housing having apair .of apertures oemmunicatting,r with the reservoir; individual one way air Valves-*associated With thelhousingvapertures in=opposed operative sense; a'partitionidi- Vidingethehousing into a rst air chamber proximate to the face plate and a secondl air chamber proximate to the reservoir, sad'partitionznaving a rreed aperture, an aperture normally' closed by a onewalyair Valve and an unrestrictedzelperture; ve1v Iirst tubular member passng through the said first air chamber vand alined with .the unrestricted face plate moeiture and tneLnormally'olosed partition aperture to forman-,air passageway;betweenthe second air chamber and the atmosphere; aseoond tubulerxnemberpassing through the said secondeir chamber-and alined withthe ,unrestricted k:partition aperture androne of` thev housingzapertures to z'form ran airipassagewa-y between therst air chamber. :and the reservoir;` a :vibratory reed; mounted non the pa1ttton-xand operatively :associated Vwith the reed aperture; t an arm pivotally .carrledlby athe partition;v a resilient pad` carriedby the arm and adaptedpto closethe reed aperture; springmeans normally biasingthe armtopress the pad against the partition toolose theireedeaperture; Vande. nger -operable -member operable externally :of the said; face plate l.to overcome the :bias vof `,the springtmeansz-and space .thecpadrfrom the parttion.

"ReferencesnCited in the le of Athis patent UNITED Y STATES "PATENTS Number Name Date l1,035,738 Radovanovic Aug. .13,Y 1912 `2,230,162 .Lidblom Jan. 28,1941 2,295,588 Logli .Sept 15,-1942 

